Brussels, 10/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Commission gave its support for the intergovernmental conference (IGC) to be held on 23 July. At the IGC, the EU “Reform Treaty” should be finalised and adopted, most likely on the occasion of the Informal European Council on 18-19 October in Lisbon. The European Parliament is also expected to give a positive opinion on Wednesday in Strasbourg (see article below), while the European Central Bank (ECB) gave its opinion last week (see EUROPE 9462 and 9464).
“The Commission fully supports the convening of the IGC on the basis of the mandate adopted by the European Council” on 23 June, President José Manuel Barroso told the press in Strasbourg. “There is a strong political consensus that the scope and content of the IGC mandate should be respected and not re-opened”, he said, addressing Poland in particular, whose government is seeking to obtain at least “clarification” on certain aspects of the mandate (mainly arrangements for application of the Ioannina compromise during double majority voting in Council, see EUROPE 9458). Everyone must recognise that “a deal is a deal”, and that there is no question of going back on the mandate, Mr Barroso stressed, calling on the “good faith” of all leaders. Margot Wallström, the vice president for institutional relations and communication strategy, felt the mandate was satisfactory as it will allow the EU to have a sound political and institutional base for giving concrete substance to its citizens' ambitions. “The reform treaty policy innovations - on energy, immigration, climate change and security - are a welcome response to what European citizens expect from the EU”, she said.
The Commission opinion highlights the improvements that a reform treaty following this mandate will bring the European Union and its citizens: - “a more democratic and transparent Europe with a strengthened role for the European and national parliaments”; greater openness in the Council, and allowing one million citizens to call on the Commission to bring forward an initiative of interest to them and a clearer sense of who does what at the European and national levels; - “a more effective Europe with institutions and working methods which are effective and streamlined”. The reform treaty will speed up decision-making in a 27-member Union; there will be improved ability to act in areas of major priority for today's Union, with simplified and fairer voting rules and streamlined institutions; - “a Europe of rights and values, solidarity and security with clarity on the Union's values and objectives”; a Charter of Fundamental Rights bringing together civil, political, economic and social rights which the Union must respect; reinforced solidarity and security in areas like energy policy; climate change, civil protection, humanitarian aid and public health, and extension of the Union's capacity to act in freedom, security and justice; - and “Europe as an actor on the global stage by bringing together Europe's external policy tools, both in policy development and policy delivery”. The reform treaty will bring more coherence between the different strands of EU external policy with a new institutional architecture. (hb)